As used in this chapter:

(1) “Consumer” means any natural person who resides, is present or is domiciled in this state, or who is or may become a plaintiff or complainant in a dispute in this state;
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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 47-16-102

  • Consumer: means any natural person who resides, is present or is domiciled in this state, or who is or may become a plaintiff or complainant in a dispute in this state. See Tennessee Code 47-16-102
  • Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
  • Litigation financier: means a person, entity or partnership engaged in the business of litigation financing. See Tennessee Code 47-16-102
  • Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
  • Person: includes a corporation, firm, company or association. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
  • Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Tort: A civil wrong or breach of a duty to another person, as outlined by law. A very common tort is negligent operation of a motor vehicle that results in property damage and personal injury in an automobile accident.
  • Verdict: The decision of a petit jury or a judge.
(2) “Litigation financier” means a person, entity or partnership engaged in the business of litigation financing; and
(3) “Litigation financing” or “litigation financing transaction”:

(A) Means a non-recourse transaction in which financing is provided to a consumer in return for a consumer assigning to the litigation financier a contingent right to receive an amount of the potential proceeds of the consumer’s judgment, award, settlement or verdict obtained with respect to the consumer’s legal claim; and
(B) Does not include:

(i) Legal services provided on a contingency fee basis, or advanced legal costs, where such services or costs are provided to or on behalf of a consumer by an attorney representing the consumer in the dispute and in accordance with the Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct;
(ii) A commercial tort claim as defined by § 47-9-102; or
(iii) A claim under the Workers’ Compensation Law, compiled in title 50, chapter 6.
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